Pool Safety Tips for Summer from ER Doctors

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Jul 10, 2021

The ER doctors at Complete Care have the pool safety tips every parent or guardian needs to keep the family safe this summer. Though the pool is a fun place for the entire family to cool off, it can also be the site of some serious injuries.

Our simple swimming safety tips can help you and your loved ones prevent some of the most common summer injuries for a secure and fun summer season!

Knowing the basics: What are some pool safety rules?

There are strict rules surrounding pool safety tips, and for good reason. For example, you should never leave a swimmer unattended, regardless of a child’s age or swimming ability. Why? A lot of accidents can happen around a swimming pool, especially if you’re not familiar with the basics of water safety. Some of these accidents can even have fatal consequences.

According to the CDC, drowning is a leading cause of death for children. Even non-fatal drowning instances can still leave children with brain damage or other lifelong injuries. It’s important that your children are supervised in the water at all times.

Before you plan on going for a swim, read over these pool safety tips for summer.

Stay hydrated and in the shade when possible

This is by far one of the most important pool safety tips that we can share to prevent dangerous emergencies.

Too much sun is never a good thing. Excessive sun exposure can have multiple consequences including sunburns, dehydration, heat stroke, and more. Because dehydration and heat stroke make up a good portion of emergency patients in the summertime, it’s important that you and your family drink plenty of water while outside and limit your time under the sun. Be aware of the warning signs of heat stroke so you know what to look out for when spending time in the sizzling sun.

No running

One of the most common pool safety tips is no running near the pool. You probably remember hearing a lifeguard yell it once every 10 seconds when you were a kid at the pool — and for good reason!

When swimming, the ground near your pool is usually wet and can cause slips and falls to occur, resulting in an injury. Always encourage your loved ones to walk carefully around the pool area. If someone does take a tumble, see if they hit their head or sustained any other injuries. If so, take them to the nearest emergency room for treatment and do it quickly — especially if they fell and hit their head.

Beware of pool drains

Because pool drains use suction to filter out dirt and debris in the water, lighter swimmers such as young children can easily get their bathing suits or limbs trapped in the drain. Some pool drains are underwater, which can lead to accidental drowning if not careful. Though this is rare, young children are still at risk for injuries when near a pool drain. Point out the areas of the pool that could be potentially dangerous to your child. For even more security, invest in a drain cover or a mesh safety net to prevent someone from accidentally getting caught in the drain. If it looks like an injury has occurred as a result of a pool drain, bring the person to the nearest emergency room for help.

Wear broad spectrum sunscreen

Most people have gotten sunburn at least once in their lives. You get to the pool, you’re ready to jump in, and then you realize you forgot to apply sunscreen. But does it really matter if you wear sunscreen or not? Yes. Wearing sunscreen can shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays that damage your skin. When choosing a sunscreen, be sure to choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both types of UV rays –– UVA and UVB.

Is higher SPF better? Though it’s best to use a minimum SPF 30, you need to reapply your sunscreen every two hours to ensure your skin is protected.

If you need to know how to treat severe sunburn, check out our article.

Have life jackets available

If your child is young or has not taken swimming lessons, having life jackets handy can help them float when in the water. When practicing swimming safety tips, floatation devices will ensure your child or inexperienced swimmer doesn’t struggle when in the pool.

If you follow these basic swimming safety tips, we guarantee you’ll have a much safer and stress-free time at the pool.

Get quality, emergency care fast at a Complete Care facility.

Now that we’ve covered the importance of pool safety tips, we hope that you and your family have a safe and fun summer. If you’re in need of any emergency care services this season, our Complete Care emergency facilities are open 24/7.

Find a Complete Care location near you today for high-quality, patient-centered care for the whole family.

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